Events Diary
Every commune has its own fete during the summer months - these
range in size from a communal meal with music and dancing to the Fete
de Bayonne which welcomes thousands of people from all over the world.
In addition, if you look at the local press, you will see advertised
'Vide Greniers', (literally empty loft) and are usually held at the
weekend. These are the French equivalent of car boot sales and you will
find everything from antiques to kitsch!
The following will give you a taste of the sort of annually recurring
events that you can enjoy here:
March
Quick cup - a competition for all those who love to slide - whether it be on surf, skate or snowboard.
Orthez - festival of jazz
April
Biarritz - festival of classical music - eclectic but always of a high standard.
May
Oloron St Marie - ancestral fair with exhibition of animals of the
region. Discover traditional béarnaise songs and dances.
Festival 3C - the three villages of Calvi, Collioure and Cibourne
present music from three cultures - Corsican, catalan and basque.
Herri Urrats - fete of basque language. Fabulous get together of
the best of basque.
June
Fete de cerises (cherries) - danse, folklore, pelote and cuisine.
Las Casetas. Salies de Bearn. Three nights and days of unending entertainment -
funfair, local food tasting, music and a surprise feature on the second night -
last year it was a Spanish family who sang and danced and this year it was a basketball
team with trampolines! We also enjoyed Portuguese dancers and Galician musicians
together with a group of folksingers from Nantwich in Cheshire. When I heard the
strains of Manchester Rambler, I thought I was losing my marbles, but no... Nantwich
is another salt town and the folk group had been invited over to join in.
July
Festival EHZ - Alternative music festival - mix of rock, salsa, hip-hop and basque.
Biarritz - Orange surf festival - surf is king, tandem surfing, films, concerts.
Bayonne - Festival of jazz.
Pamplona - Running of the bulls
Mont de Marsan - Cretan style cow jumping
August
Fetes de Bayonne - The biggest in France - five days of festival and folly! Music
is everywhere - special programs for children. Cow-running (a la Pamplona), bare handed
pelote, bull fighting and enormous firework display.
Folklore festival - A French Eistedfodd! Singers and dancers from 22 countries.
Anglet - Night of surf - waves lit up for occasion.
September
Fete du sel - Salies de Bearn. All houses are decorated in the theme of the
year and locals wear traditional costume. Procession and events involving running
of the salt barrels, crafts and artisans of former times, free salt crystals and
demonstration of how the salt was collected. Large communal meal featuring Banda
music and lots of singing and dancing.
Fete de Bergers - Shepherds and dogs show their skills.
Fete de Trocs - Port de Lanne - the whole village is taken over with over 150
stalls and you can find everything from antiques to curios to kitsch! A haven for
the flea-market enthusiast.
October
Biarritz - The most important cinema festival in the world dedicated solely to Latin
America. More than 50,000 people come each year.
Festival de theatre Bayonne - excellent and varied programme attracts both regional
and national players.
Espelette - fete du piment. The piment holds an essential place in local specialities.
Tasting and sale of piments (pimento pepper), dances and concerts.
|
